Historically Black Prairie View A&M University in Texas recently launched the Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project, a pioneering initiative that places the HBCU among the first institutions in the United States to formally address sickle cell disease (SDC) within a higher education setting.
SCD is an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans. The condition often causes excruciating pain, unpredictable crises, and lifelong health challenges.
The new PVAMU program will identify students living with SCD through the HBCU’s Owens Franklin Health Center and connect them directly to specialized care via partnerships with Texas Children’s Hospital, the Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas at Houston. In addition to medical support, students will also receive community and wellness resources from the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation.
The initiative will also create a greater awareness of SCD among faculty and staff, ensuring they have the tools to support students whose health needs may affect coursework, attendance, and deadlines. By easing the burden of students living with SCD, PVAMU aims to strengthen the retention and graduation rates for students living with chronic illness.
“This is a great opportunity for Prairie View to help establish a model of support for college students nationwide who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease,” said Tondra L. Moore, executive director of health services at PVAMU. “We’re not just responding to a health condition, we are setting a standard of care and advocacy that matches the resilience of our students.”
